Device for releasing pool-table triangles.



N. 95 '14. 'i PATBNTD m6111908. o. 8l '4 o. W. KURT-H.

'I' I( APPLICA I0 FILED HAY 2'! 1907 GSHBBTS SHEET l.

DEVICE PoR RELBA'SING P001, TABLE TRIANGLES'.- J .i

MQ-www4 N 8954'14.- PATENTE? A111111 1908. o. O.W.KURTH.

DEVICE POR RBLBASING P001. TABLETRIA-NGLES.

AIPLIOATIOX .FILED HAY 27,-1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

' UNITED STATESv PATENT oEEioE "OSCAR w. KURT-121,01?A FULLERToFN, NORTE einem.. i i DEVICE FOR RELEASING Econ-TABLE TEIAN'GLES.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application mea may 2v, 1907. 'sehn No. 376,045.

T o all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Oscar. W. KURTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fullerton, in the county of Dickey and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Releasing Pool-Table Triangles; and I do hereby declare the followingr to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. A

My invention has for its object to provide a coin controlled device for releasing pool table triangles, and to this end it consists-v of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts .throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a. view in elevation, showing a portion of an ordinary pool table, and showing my improved device applied for use in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section, and with some parts removed, showing a device for locking the triangle supporting oord against return movement. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, with some parts broken away and with some parts removed, showing the coin controlled mechanism for action on the triangle supporting cord to hold the triangle in position above the table. Fig. 4 is a sid elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, some parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but with some parts removed, and with the arts shown in different positions than in Flg. 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line zr of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line '.r7 of Fig. 5: and Fig. S is a horizontal section on the line .rs sus of Fig. 5.

The pool table is indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 1, and one wall and the ceiling of a room in which the table is placed are indicated, respectively, by the numerals 2 and 3. 'lhc pool table triangle, which is indicated by the numeral 4. is suspended by a cord 5 that runs over guide sheaves 6 and 7, the former of which is applied to the ceiling at the proper point above one end of the pool table, and the latter of which is supi ported from the ceiling close to the wall 2. The cord 5 is extended downward through suitable clearance passages in an upper case 8 and through suitable passages in a lower case 9, both of which cases, as shown,- are secured to the wall '2. The depending portion ofsaid cord 5 is looped, and the end of said cord, as shown, is assed upward through a perforation in the liottoin of said case 9 and is provided with a knot 5l which serves to anchor the said cord. A. weighted sheave 10 is suspended on the depending loop of the isaid cord, as shown in Fig. 1.

As shown, the case 9 is provided with an Vupper end .extension 9 through which the `S ll`spending cord 5 freely passes. This exteiision, however, serves no important function, but on its face it is shown as provided wit'fel frame adapted to hold a card containi gilinstructions as to the manner of opera ionof the mechanism.

Rividl'y "secured within the case 9 is ai metal framework 11, to the lower portion of which is pi'votally connected a pair of opposing cord llock segments 12. These segments 12 are`-.provided with serrated segmental edges 13 that are eccentric to the pivots of the said segments and increase their distance from said pivots in a downward direction, so that they will clamp the cord when simultaneously moved upward, and will release said cord when simultaneously moved downward. By means of links 14, the lock segment-s are connected for simultaneous oscillatory movements, the upper ends of said links being pivotally attached to one arm of a bell crank 15 that is pivotally connected at 15 to the frame 11. A coiled spring '16 shown as attached' to one of the said segments 12 and to the upper portion of the frame 11 puts both of the .eck segments underv tension to move upward and, hence, to clamp t-he cord 5 and thereby lock the same so that the engaged portion thereof can not be pulled upward, and hence the triangle 4 can not be pulled downward. At the free end of its upper arm, the bell crank 15 is )rovided with a laterally projecting stu 17 which, under downward movement, automatically engages with the hooked end 1S'l of a lock dog 1S that is pivotallymounted on the frame l l. The 'depending portion of' the dog 1S is provided with a crooked cam slot 18b 2 v i i ,895,474

and is normally pressed against a stop pin 19 on the frame 11 by a coiled spring 2O attached to said frame and to one of the depending prongs of said dog. l 5 Pivotally connected to the upper left hand portion of the frame 11, as viewed in Fig. 3, 1s a dog tripping lever 21, the free end of which is simultaneously pressed upward by a spring 22 shown as supported by a collar 23a on a stem 23 secured to the frame 11.

The free end of this tripping` lever 21 is preferably crooked, as best shown in Fig. 6, and at its intermediate portion itis provided with an eye 21a through which the cord 5 is freely passed. Just .a ove this eye 21a, the cord 5 is provided with a tripping collar or enlargement 5b that is adapt-ed to engage and press the lever '21 downward when the said sheave 10 is at its lowermost position, and the tri-angle 4 is in its Aelevated position, shown in Fig. 1. To the free end portion of the trip lever 21 is pivotally connected a trip rod 24, the crooked lower end of which works in the slot 18b of t-he dog 1S. A light coiled 25 spring 25 attached to said trip rod and to t-he lever 21 yieldingly draws the de ending free g end of thc trip rod 21 toward t 1e left with respect to Figs. 3 and 5.

ligidly secured to the frame 1l, below the bell crank 15, is a horizontally extended guide bar 26 upon which a coin receiving head 27 is mounted to slide. Ihis head 27 is connected to the lower' arm of the bell crank 15, as shown, by means of a slot and screw connection 28. The head 27 carries the lower section 29 of a coin delivery chute, and this section 29 receives from an intermediate chute section 30 that is pivotally connected to lugs 31 on the up )ermost or receiving spout section 32, which latter is rigidly secured to the top of the case 9. The lower end of the spout section 29 is open, and when the head is moved to its extreme position toward the left as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, it registers with a coin passage 33 in the guide bar 26. Below the coin passage 33 a coin "receptacle 34 is shown as suitably secured within the case 9. By reference to Fig. 5 it will be noted that when the head 27 and s out sections 29 and 30 are moved toward t 1e left as shown in said view, a coin 2 if inserted into the upper spout section 32 will be caught and held by the flaring upper end of the said spout section 30. A plunger 35 works through a suitable *guide in the right hand side of the case 9 and 1s connected to a driving head 36 which, in turn, is provided with a projecting end 37 that is adapted to engage a coin which is dropped to the lower end of the spout section 29 and rests upon the guide bar 26. By reference to Fig. t it will be noted that one side of the lower end of the spout. 29 is open so y as to permit the projection 37 of the driving head to engage the coin and, hence, operate thereon to force t-he head 27 toward'tllie left. A coiled spring 3S attached to thc li'ead 36 and to one side of the case 9 yieldingl'y holds'l said head and the plunger 35 towald lthe right, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. 70 The operation of the mechanism so far ile-,A .l scribed 1s` substantially as follows: Nor-fg,

mally, the parts stand as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and as already stated, the triangle 4 'sr locked in its elevated position by the lock-75 segments 12. When a coin has been dcpositcd in the lower end of the spout section 29 and the plunger 35 is forced inward, the projection 37 of the head 36 pressing against the coin forces the head 27 toward the left, thereby rocking the bell crank 15 and causing the latter, through the links 1-1, to move thc lock segments 12 downward into reieasing positions. This movement of the bell cran 15 carries the stud 17 downward into engageg5 ment with the hooked end 1S of the lock dog 18, and the said lock dog operating on the said stud, locks the said bell crank, the head 27 and the lock segments 12 in the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position of the head 27, as soon as the plunger 35 and head 36 are permitted to return to the right, the coin will drop from thc spout section 29 through the coin passage 33 and into the coin pocket 34. The cord 5 havinlr thus been released, the 95 triangle -1 may be drawn downward and used to assemble the pool balls in the proper triangular arrangement upon the table. when the triangle is released, the weighted sheave 10 willA draw the cord downward and raise the said triangle into t-he position shown in Fig. 1, and at the limit of this movement, the trip collar 5b on the cord 5 strikes the trip lcver 21 and forces the same downward from the posit-ion shown in Fig. 5 into the posi-tion shown in Fig. 3. Under this downward movement the trip lever 21 forces the laterally bent lower end of the trip rod 24 against the shoulder at the upper extremity of the slot 18b and thereby rocks the dog 1S and causes the same to release the stud 1T of the bell crank 15, whereupon the spring 16 will throw the parts 12, 15 and 2 back to their normal positions with the lock segments 12 again in engagement with the cord 5.

In connection with the mechanism described, I also preferably provide a device which, when the triangle is drawn downward into an operative position, will secure the suspending cord 5 against return movement and, hence, relieve the triangle from upwardly drawing force from the weighted sheave 10. This device is placed within the upper case 8 and includes a lock segment 39 that is pivotally supported within said case and is' provided with aserrated segmental free edge that is eccentric to the pivot of said segment and .increases its distance from said pivot in lan upwardly direction. 'hen the serrated edge of this lock segment 39 is 130 dropped against the cord 5, it presses the. op-

VAj @poslte side ot th e cord against a thrust block 1 40 secured wlthln the case 8 (see Fig. 2).

Normally, or when the parts are m the position shown in Fig. 1, the lock segment 39 is held inoperative by a detainer ailorded by a bent rod 41 which is pivotally supported at 42 and is provided with a stop shou der 13 that A engages a stud 44- on the said lock segment 39.1 As shown, the projecting free end of the 'detainer k41 is guided by a yoke L15 secured within the ease 8. A. coiled spring 46 attachedto thelock segment 39 and to the interior of the ease 8 yieldingly draws the lock segment 39 downward. A trip rod -17 is pivotally connected to the det-amer 41 and is provided with an eye or coil 4S that loosely surrounds the cord 5 and is adapted to be cngaged by the trip collar 5b of the said cord Ywhen the triangle is drawn down into an operative position, and the said collar '.s raised to its extreme position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. A light coiled spring L19 attached to the detainer 41 and to the interior of the case 8 vieldingly holds the detainer in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

trip cord 50, whieh'runs over suitable guide devices 51 from the ceiling, is attached at one "end to the lock segment. 39 and at its other end is shown as provided with a ball or handpiece 52 that overlies the table 1 in a )osition where it may be conveniently reached.

\\\'ith this` device', when the triangle is drawn down into )osition for use, the trip collar 5* of the cord 5 engages the looped end of the trip rod 47 and forces the detainer 41 out of engagement with the stud 44, as shown by dotted lmes in Fig. 2, and this permits the lock segment 39 to fall into engagement with the cord 5 and thereby lock the same against ret-urn lnovement. Then it is desired to return the triangle 4 to its inoperative or clevated position, it is only necessarv to take hohl of the hand-piece 52 and pull downward on the trip cord 50, thereby raising the lock segment 39 into an inoperative position and thereby releasing the cord 5, so that it may be drawn downward by the weighted sheave 10. Then the lock segment 39 is raised into the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the spring 49 ret-urns the detainer 41 to its norcoral to hold the same against movement, a

cooperating driving head and receiving head adapt-ed to be caused to move together, and connections from said receiving head to said lock segments for simultaneousrl f moving the same,- substantially as described.

2. The combination with a weighted cord, and a device such as a triangle suspended thereby, of lock devices normally operative on said cord, a sliding head with connections for moving said lock devices into inode'rative positions, means for securing said ock devices in inoperative positions, and means for raising the same to operative positions when the cord has been returned to its normal position, substantially as described.

3. The combination witha weighted cord, and a triangle suspended by one end thereof, of a pair of lock segments having opposin segmental cord engaging surfaces, a bell crank, links connecting said lock segments to one arm of said bell crank, a lock dog operative on said bell crank to hold said lock segments in inoperative positions, 'a tripping lever with connection for releasing said dog when said lever is'depressed, and a trip collar or projection on said cord operative to dcpress said trip lever when said -cord is re.

turned to a normal position, substantially as described. 1

4. The combination with a weighted cord, and a triangle suspended by one end thereof, lock devices normally holding said cord against movement in one direction, means for releasing said lock devices,an inde )endent lock device operative on said cord to hold the same against movement in the other direction, and a trip device carried by; said cord and o erative to throw the said two classes of loer devices alternately into action, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a weighted cord, and a device such as a triangle suspended thereby, of an eccentric lock segment operative to secure said cord against movement in one direction, a detainer normally holding said lock segment in an inoperative position, a trip device on said cord operative to move said detainer and release said lock segment, and a connection for moving said lock segment into an inoperative position and rendering the said detaiuer again operative on said lock segment, substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR W. KURTH.

'Witnesses A E. S. Tnonas, JAMES HALL. 

